The Prussian Transition: Full-Blooded Capitalism From Above and Its Consequences

Abstract

In 1799, in response to ‘the distant effect of the French Revolution and the increasing ferment among the peasant population’ [Harnisch, 1986: 65], in all provinces peasants on the royal demesnes were given the opportunity to commute labour services into annual money rents; while in a few provinces peasants were allowed to purchase holdings by paying the so-called Erbstandsgeld [Harnisch, 1986: 64]. But the Junkers resisted successfully attempts to abolish hereditary serfdom or commute feudal dues (especially labour obligations) into money rents on private land: such attempts failing to proceed beyond the stage of preliminary negotiations (loc. cit.).